Pass me a pen

After another tension-fraught twenty four hours, prevaricating whether to take toddler to the hospital or not, I'm exhausted!

Hoping for some improvement this weekend.

In the meantime, I'm getting a rough idea of my characters for GETTING WILD WITH THE BOSS down on paper.
(In case you've forgotten my inspiration for hero Rhys Cartwright, take another look!)

There's something so comforting for me, curling up on the couch with my pen and notepad, jotting down stuff for my next book. I really enjoy it.

Do other writers feel this way?

My day with Doogie

Yesterday was one of 'those' days.

Spent most of it at the hospital with toddler.
What was initially thought mild asthma a few months ago is more severe and a trip to local doc ended up with me being sent directly to hospital.

Where I met up with Doogie.

I kid you not, the ER doc looking after toddler was Doogie Howser's double.
The resemblance was uncanny!

Considering he was looking after my precious bub, I didn't say anything, as I'm sure he gets it all the time and might've been a tad peeved.

So after a long day treating and monitoring, we returned home, where I now have to keep a close eye on toddler and hope the hospital run isn't too regular.

Heroine cast

A huge thanks to all of you for heroine suggestions.

My favourite (and a perfect fit for Jane Connors in GETTING WILD WITH THE BOSS) is Anne Hathaway.


So thanks, Kerrin. Drop me a private email and I'll post you out a book!

Meanwhile, I'm off to do some serious brainstorming...

Hollering for a heroine

I need your help casting my next heroine.

Not surprising, I know exactly who my heroes are every book but the heroines are becoming more elusive lately...

Jane Connors in GETTING WILD WITH THE BOSS, my next Modern Heat, comes from a wealthy background.
Society princess.
Darling of her daddy's eye.
Has conformed her entire life and happy to.

Until an incident removes the expensive mink from her eyes and she follows her dream to become a biologist.
Heads half way around the world, wants to change her image, really discover herself.

So basically I need someone sweet and biddable, slightly naive, but with an underlying streak of steel.

Any ideas?

My not so secret crush

I have a major crush on Michael Buble.

Love his voice.
Love his smile.
Love his cheekiness and irreverance and downright adorable factor.

And yes, I have pics saved of him in my hero folder for future use as inspiration for one of my upcoming heroes.

In the meantime, he's in OZ. I'm in OZ...

Farewell Nathan

After layering, polishing and editing like a maniac over the weekend, I sent off WILD ABOUT YOU to my lovely editor Sunday morning.



Farewelling book 23 was easy.



Farewelling my hero inspiration, Nathan Fillion, is going to be a lot tougher.

THE WRITE WHISPER: Sprinting

You know about me and exercise...so no, I'm not talking about sprints of the running variety.

Lately, I've been seeing the term sprinting springing up everywhere in relation to writing.

I happened to be on Twitter 2 weeks ago on a Friday night, about to start writing, when I noticed RWAus and a few Aussie authors were doing a 15 minute sprint.

Basically, it involves writing as fast as you can in that time frame, non stop.

Similar to pacing yourself against an egg timer, I'd say, which I heard recommended by Stephanie Bond once.

The interesting thing is, I've been doing natural sprints for the last fortnight.

I have a short deadline.

I have loads of words to write.

So I write: early morning, toddler nap time, late at night.

The result?

Huge increase in productivity. Not just from the actual time spent writing, but sprinting increases your speed. Truly!

Go ahead, try it.

I've written 14000 words last week, over 10000 the week before.

It has been a long time since I've done that, because I'd slowed my writing, aiming for 4-8 pages a day. Now, I'm doing 6-8 in one sitting.

Along with faster fingers, I think your mind loosens, gets in tune with your story, knowing you need to pour the words out to meet your self-imposed time limit.

Practice your sprinting.

You'll be pleased with the results.